Make the police act: bus company CEO's shocking letter to Ramaphosa

TimesLIVE

15-05-2025

The courts further held the national commissioner of police in contempt of a court order that compelled him to do his job. The commissioner did not even bother to file an affidavit in defence of his lack of action. The court described this as 'not only unavailing but damning' and as 'indicative of a failure to appreciate the obligations imposed by legislation and to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves'. The national commissioner failed to appreciate what his obligations were, and much less discharged them. He too did not suffer any consequences.
There has also not been any public condemnation of the violence against Intercape. Not by yourself or anyone from your government. The shootings of Intercape's drivers were not met with messages of condolences from any minister or MEC. No one visited the families or came to the hospital, or attended the funeral. There have been no serious undertakings to resolve this scourge of co-ordinated violence. Instead, the 'lamentable indifference' was replaced by retaliation. As we were winning in court, there was a sudden clampdown on our buses. Drivers were being pulled off the road by the SAPS under the guise of checking clearly lawful permits, only to be released a few hours later. They showed no regard for the passengers, including the elderly and the young, or those awaiting their arrival.
The court found that criminals 'were apparently emboldened by the lack of visible policing', that the action plan developed by your government in response to a court order was so deficient that it would 'send the unfortunate message to perpetrators...that the authorities do not intend to use their extensive statutory powers to quell the violence', and that because this is the message sent by your government's failures it may even have been 'better to have no action plan at all'.
No-one in your government has been held accountable for this continued failure. No-one has been disciplined for allowing criminals to terrorise innocent people while millions in public funds were wasted fighting against justice.
Our plight is shared by millions of South Africans. Criminals are winning everywhere. There are mafias operating in broad daylight, in the construction industry and elsewhere. Our fight has not only been for Intercape and its passengers, but for every person and business that has the right to be protected from criminals. As an aside, your government tried to convince the court that we were acting out of self-interest. The judge had to put them straight and found that this 'unfounded assertion' was merely 'used by the SAPS as an excuse for not performing their constitutional duties'. The court's exasperation was clear when it found that '[i]t boggles the mind why it is so difficult for a law enforcement agency to appreciate that when armed assailants take potshots at moving buses, deleterious consequences inevitably ensue'.
We have faced apathy and retaliation, while the criminals, the ministers, the MECs, and the SAPS generals continue to fail in their constitutional duties with impunity. The courts have already conducted the inquiries. The evidence is before you. Mr President, please hold your ministers, commissioners, and MECs accountable. Fire them. Recover the wasted money from them personally and use it to protect the citizens of this country.
These legal victories achieved by Intercape thus far are a testament to our determination to safeguard our passengers and to hold the South African government and police accountable for its blatant disregard for human lives and the rule of law. However, these victories offer little comfort when the violence continues, and justice remains elusive.
Mr President, I urge you to uphold your oath of office. Restore order. Enforce the law. Take decisive action against those who have failed the people of South Africa. Surely, your vision of 'all are equal before the law' must also apply to those within your government.
Intercape is but one example of the cost of inaction. The true burden of your leadership failures is borne by every citizen in this country.
Sincerely,